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Mid-season report: Wolverhampton Wanderers

Mid-season report: Wolves
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Sports Mole takes a look at the fortunes of Wolverhampton Wanderers during the first half of the Championship season.

The 2012-13 season saw the start of a new era at Molineux with the appointment of Stale Solbakken as the club's new manager.

Relegation from the Premier League saw the departure of two of the club's biggest stars in Steven Fletcher and Matt Jarvis, but the new Wolves boss brought in an influx of players from abroad as he looked to gain promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.

Here, Sports Mole looks at how Solbakken has fared in the opening half of the season.

August

Wolves kicked off the season with a penalty shootout victory over Aldershot Town in the Capital One Cup, but they succumbed to a 1-0 defeat to Leeds United at Elland Road on the opening day of the Championship season.

A comfortable 3-1 victory over Barnsley saw Solbakken record his first three points but a late Theo Robinson equaliser for Derby County prevented him from securing back-to-back wins.

The Molineux men rounded off the month by securing their place in the third round of the Capital One Cup with a 3-1 triumph over Northampton.

September

Wolves began September with a 3-1 loss to Cardiff City, with Peter Whittingham netting a superb hat-trick for the Bluebirds.

However, Wolves responded with maximum points from their next three Championship games, against Leicester City, Ipswich Town and Peterborough United.

Bakary Sako was having the greatest impact of Solbakken's summer signings but he was rested along with several other first-team regulars as Wolves bowed out of the Capital One Cup thanks to a heavy 6-0 defeat to Chelsea.

Sako returned to the starting lineup four days later to score the only goal as Wolves concluded the month with a 1-0 victory over Sheffield Wednesday.

October

Wolves had secured four league victories in a row but their run of good form was ended as Wilfried Zaha netted twice to hand Crystal Palace a 2-1 win at Molineux.

Sako struck again as Wanderers hit back with a 1-0 win at Blackburn Rovers to maintain the club's playoff position but Huddersfield Town edged out Wolves by two goals to one in the first game after the international break.

A Kevin Doyle double looked to have handed Wolves three points against Bolton Wanderers before Molineux old boy Mark Davies struck a last-minute equaliser.

Wolves let another lead slip in the final game of the month as they drew 1-1 with Charlton Athletic.

November

November began with successive defeats to Burnley and Hull City before a late Roger Johnson header rescued a point for Wolves in a 3-3 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Wolves had now gone six games without a victory and their misery continued as they lost 2-1 to Watford after having Christophe Berra harshly sent off in the opening period of the game.

Back-to-back Molineux defeats against Nottingham Forest and Millwall led to speculation that Solbakken could be dismissed as the club's manager but he received a stay of execution as he continued in his role into the final month of the year.

December

The pressure eased on Solbakken as Wolves struck four goals in the first half of their game against Bristol City, eventually sealing a 4-1 triumph.

A Marlon King own goal handed Wolves a 1-0 win over Midlands rivals Birmingham City before two late goals saw Middlesbrough edge out Solbakken's side 2-0.

However, Wolves hit back with a superb 2-1 victory at Blackpool to hand Michael Appleton his first defeat since he took over as the Seasiders manager.

Solbakken's side couldn't build on this though as lowly Peterborough visited on Boxing Day and continued their improved form with a 3-0 romp.

That leaves Wolves in 14th position after 24 games, six points shy of the playoff places and nine clear of the drop zone.

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Darren Plant
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